"the Queen reigns, but she does not rule"

Jesus is Lord. It was the first documented creed of the newly formed Christian community. Still the question remains, as to what exactly does this truth mean?

One track in answering recognizes that we live in a world in which being a Christian entails practicing a kingdom politics. Some British citizens in grappling with the current role of the monarchy in British politics have pithily coined the phrase which is the title of this post. It is a de facto assessment, which seems to share uncomfortable insights with the rule of YHWH over His people today, beyond the rule over all creation. This is reflected most readily if not on the lips of Christians then in our religious praxis.

The point is though it should not be the case, at least if not in the world then in the lives of those who identify with the Christian religion.

The state employs both coercive measures and ideological ones to ensure compliance ¹, to make the reality of such rule a fact. We instinctively recognize this type of power and politics. God's rule though is both more hidden and mysterious. The church's ideological methods seem both ineffective and insufficient for dealing with both modern Western experience and the even more problematic issue of our sinful historic existence. The criteria for this judgment being its fruits. It's people fluctuate between legalism and antinomianism, oblivious to the freedom of the resurrection. That is the freedom to be a certain kind of human and deliverance from the power of sin here and now. The church's betrayal of its revelations has left it ill-equipped in its ministry to the people, who too are not without fault.

A consequence has been what is politically tantamount to disloyalty and unfaithfulness to the crown by the people. We are not subjects to God as we even are to say the American republic (and make no mistake we are subjects to the government and not citizens of the United States of America.). This post is leaving much unexplored and left to flesh out even what is stated; however, as long as we are de facto loyal to our contemporary understandings over and beyond our God, we are in essence rejecting the rule of YHWH replacing it with objects and powers of influence and ideas which will instead guide us in this world. As long as autonomy is the descriptive paradigm for our lives, the church will necessarily proclaim the false truth against reality that Jesus reigns but does not rule.

We do not get points for sincere intentions or vain attempts at propitiation. All branches face rejection and abandonment as punishment for their disloyalty to their Lord and His word. We are to live on this earth carrying out our Lord's will as in heaven for as long as the thin veil separating the two exists. Despite YHWH's absence, we are still charged with politicking in a fashion representative as His emissaries.